The Dragonsmith kit lets THINK C programmers easily create drag-and-drop applications (or "dragons") for use while running System 7 or greater.
The Dragon class is the foundation of an object-oriented (non-THINK Class Library) framework for a simple drag-and-drop application. To create your own dragons, you'll create a subclass of Dragon and override one (or possibly more) of Dragon's methods.
Two sample "dragons" are provided, along with their THINK C project and source files. "File Paths" may come in handy for MPW programmers, and you'll need "'alis' Maker" to debug your own dragons.
*** All source code is included. ***
Setup instructions
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1. Extract the remaining files in this archive, if you haven't already done so
2. Open the "Dragonsmith.╣" project file
3. Precompile the file "PreDragon.c" and save the resulting file as "PreDragon"
4. Bring the "Dragonsmith.╣" project up to date
5. Open the "Dragonsmith.debug.╣" project and bring it up to date
6. Open the file "DNothing.c" and follow the instructions there
Miscellaneous notes
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System 7 is required for this version; I don't have any plans for a version that makes allowances for System 6.0.x, since dragons without drag-and-drop would be rather pointless.
If you're unaccustomed to using THINK C project files as libraries, you may want to read the section "Projects as libraries" on pp. 274-275 of the THINK C 5.0 User Manual. One important thing that they apparently fail to mention is that you can't use debugging information for code in a project you're using as a library. To get around this, remove the project-as-library from your project file and substitute the actual files and/or libraries that it's comprised of. This may be necessary if you choose to enhance the functionality found in the Dragon.c, Main.c, HandleUtils.c, or FileUtils.c files.
You don't need to know anything about the THINK Class Library to use Dragonsmith. If you've never used the object-oriented features of THINK C, read Chapters 3 and 4 of the THINK C 5.0 Object-Oriented Programming Manual.
A vaguely serpentine icon (look close) serves as the default icon, but you are encouraged to make your own (I gave up on trying to draw a 32 x 32 dragon in ResEdit). I've set up the various "bundle" resources in the dragon project resource files to make building working dragons a snap (as long as you can get your code to compile, that is), and Balloon Help for the dragon's icon in the Finder is implemented. The "DNothing.c" file has more info on project resources.
This is just the beginning of Dragonsmith, as far as I'm concerned. The debugging capabilities in Dragonsmith.debug.╣ (which rely on the Dragon::Test method) have served my needs so far, but it would be nice to be able to send selective Apple Events to a dragon (or, come to think of it, any project) running under the THINK C Debugger. I'm currently working on object-based menu handling -- unlike in Symantec's TCL, each menu will be an object of class Menu or one of its subclasses (a WindowsMenu class, for example, would be nice). Ultimately I hope to make a Paradigma-like "grep" dragon, whatever that may be. (A grephon?) Incidentally, anyone interested in a search-engine class, grep or otherwise, is encouraged to contact me -- I'm starting to work on one and could use some feedback!
All source code in the Dragonsmith kit is Copyright ⌐ 1992 Paul M. Hoffman but may be freely used, altered, and distributed in any way you want as long as:
1. It is GIVEN away rather than sold;
2. This statement (including the copyright notice) is left intact.
Paul M. Hoffman
840 S. First St. #1
Ann Arbor MI 48103
Yes, I am a poor (part-time) student.
No, I'm not asking for any contributions.
Send me a postcard if you want to, but e-mail is better -- my Internet address is
